30 Super Carry Remington HTP vs Hornady Critical Defense vs Speer Gold Dot Ballistic Gel Test Review

Published on March 20, 2024
Duration: 27:30

This video presents a ballistic gel test comparing Remington HTP, Hornady Critical Defense, and Speer Gold Dot ammunition in 30 Super Carry. The test evaluates bullet expansion, penetration depth, and performance through four layers of denim. While Remington HTP and Hornady Critical Defense demonstrated consistent expansion and performance, the Speer Gold Dot failed to expand and fully penetrate the denim barrier in multiple tests.

Quick Summary

In a ballistic gel test of 30 Super Carry ammunition, Remington HTP and Hornady Critical Defense demonstrated reliable expansion and performance through denim barriers. Speer Gold Dot, however, failed to expand through four layers of denim, indicating potential issues with barrier penetration for self-defense applications.

Chapters

  1. 00:12Introduction to 30 Super Carry Ballistic Gel Test
  2. 00:56Ammunition Specifications: Remington HTP, Hornady Critical Defense, Speer Gold Dot
  3. 01:36Test Setup: Bare Block and Four Layers of Denim
  4. 02:03Firing Order: Remington, Hornady, Speer
  5. 03:02Bare Gel Test Results: Remington HTP
  6. 04:07Bare Gel Test Results: Hornady Critical Defense and Speer Gold Dot
  7. 05:09Initial Bare Gel Performance Summary
  8. 06:06Bare Gel Penetration Depths and Bullet Extraction
  9. 06:48Setting Up the Denim Test
  10. 07:10Denim Test: Speer Gold Dot Failure
  11. 08:00Denim Test: Hornady Critical Defense and Remington HTP
  12. 09:03Denim Test Results Comparison
  13. 10:14Second Round of Testing: Repeating Results
  14. 11:09Second Denim Test: Remington and Hornady Performance
  15. 12:05Second Denim Test: Speer Gold Dot Failure Confirmation
  16. 13:13Denim Test Summary: Gold Dot Failure vs. Others
  17. 15:26Re-testing Speer Gold Dot with T-Shirt Barrier
  18. 16:42Speer Gold Dot Through Two Layers of T-Shirt
  19. 18:13Comparison with Previous Federal Punch and HST Test
  20. 19:24Federal Punch Test in Current Calibration
  21. 21:15Close-up Examination of Recovered Bullets
  22. 23:51Bullet Weight Retention Data
  23. 23:54Bullet Diameter Measurements
  24. 26:05Final Conclusions and Recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Remington HTP, Hornady Critical Defense, and Speer Gold Dot 30 Super Carry ammunition perform in ballistic gel tests?

In bare gel, all three expanded well, with Hornady Critical Defense showing slightly more damage. However, through four layers of denim, Speer Gold Dot failed to expand and passed through the block, while Remington HTP and Hornady Critical Defense maintained performance.

What are the key differences in penetration depth for 30 Super Carry ammunition tested?

Penetration depths in bare gel were approximately 16.5 inches for Remington HTP, 16 inches for Hornady Critical Defense, and 15.5 inches for Speer Gold Dot. The Gold Dot's lack of expansion through denim resulted in significantly deeper penetration in that scenario.

Which 30 Super Carry ammunition is recommended for self-defense based on this ballistic gel test?

Remington HTP and Hornady Critical Defense are recommended due to their consistent expansion and performance through denim barriers. The Speer Gold Dot is advised against for self-defense due to its failure to expand through denim in this test.

What was the weight retention and expanded diameter for the tested 30 Super Carry rounds?

All tested rounds (Remington HTP, Hornady Critical Defense, Speer Gold Dot) showed near 100% weight retention. Expanded diameters in bare gel ranged from approximately 0.516" (Remington) to 0.603" (Hornady) and 0.545" (Speer).

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